Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-01-19
THE ISLE OF ROSES.

| the coasts of Pomcrania and Sweden, lies the
| Danish island of Bornholm 1t is little known
to the world, and the ITofusion of wild roses
indigenous to the plaen has acquired for it
the sobriquet of the isle of roses.
The environs of the little town of Allinge,
| on the northwest, are especially picturesque
and remarkable for the peculiar wildness of
their formation. We are here, suddenly and
without any prelude, confronted with mag
niticent natural panorama.
Making Allinge my starting point used
| often TO visit the old castle The road at first
lies along the strand, then winding to the left
commences an ascent; after half an hour
spent in scrambling among the rocks the
Vale of Paradise" is attained. Through the
heart of the dell encircling the castle extends
promenade whose perfection of scenery
challenges Imagination lt-elf The path on
both sides is bordered with lliacs and roses In
thick hedges, which grow to a sufficient
height to form species of vaulted alley, rich
in fragrance, retaining its grateful shade and
GOODNESS during the prevalence of extreme
neat
y few PAGES through this Eden brings the
wand rer before the deep, placid languor OF
the ocean. Masses of rock, cleft in rugged
wldncSs, form at once a small bay, and fit.
ting frame for so glorious prospect
Isoughe my favorite haunt one day when
the fierce heat of the suns rays was untem-
pered by breath of air; but the rough
hewn bench under the gnarled oak. whence
the view extended to the distant sea, COM
handing the course of passing ships, was
occupied
a girl busted with needlework was sitting
there. In my first surprise fancied that |
beheld some appaIition or wood nymph 1t
was, however, no unreal mockery,n for the
figure arose TO its feet when my footsteps be-
came audible. Standing there in all her mar
Vicious beauty, in food of sunbeams, she re-
sembled some goddess OF the northern myth
ology. The garb OF the country developed
freely the graceful symmetry of her tall,
slender figure, and lent peculiar charm to
her appearance, The most striking feature
in this vision was, however, the molly mod
eled head, the expressive countenance encir-
cled by a PROPULSION of light, wavy hair. the
eyes shaded by dark lashes, blue and fathom-
less as the ocean, their gaze now fixed upon
the intruder
We stood silent for moment, confronting
each other in mutual surprise, for neither of
us had dreamt of finding this solitude invaded
by another human being. Should l pass on
my way placidly or seek to enter into CONVEX
saton? l hesitated. Every form of address
which first occurred to me seemed bold and
inappropriate; should have preferred to con-
tent myself with gazing at her and listening
to her voice. As it was necessary, however,
20 put an end TO the situation one way or
another, and vainly endeavoring to combat
the ascendancy of the girls charms, inquired
my way to the little fishing village of Wang,
which had long intended to visit.
"Ah, you sreak Danish she observed. with
a friendly smile, for she had at once set me
down as foreigner And then, with all the
charm of natural affability which character
lies her compatriotS, she explained that the
way led me across the rocky strand noted
anew in her a popularity of the Bohemian
folk, Avoiding all use of the expression right
or left, they refer invariably to the points of
the compass. She accompanied me to a point
from which | could not miss my way, and
wished me pleasant walk at parting. This
meeting gave mo food for reflection during
the rest ofIny ramble
What had caused me to take so much in
telest in this girl! Surely not her rare beauty
alone. l pondered and pondered, and at
leusth believed | haCLfound cIew. | had n
dim recollection of some tragic feature in her
face, such as nature bestows in many human
beings, and now my minds eye deserted it
clearly ard distinctly defined in the graceful
lines OF her mouth Besides this, her eyes
bad gaze full of dreamy thoughtfulness, as
though the soal of the possaSsor dwelt in the
far distance. At all events, this maiden had
Something unusual about her.
AT Wang entered the cabin of fisherman
to partake of refreshments as there was nc
inn there, and mentioned my encounter, ask
ing, after giving description of the girl, if
anybody knew her. At once came the reply:
of course, that was our lovely GudIun;
Everybody on the island knows her. A good
girl, but klarsynet IA clairvoyantl. which,
however, is not unusual among our women
"Ahl' thought /, "a clairvoyant That az
counts for the dreamy look in her eyes, And
toe weather beaten sailor added:
"Sbe has occasioned her father, old Can't
ToTstensen, much grief already from tbs
cause She wanderS at night to the ruins Of
Hammershuus and talks with the spirits there.
But she win be married soon She is engaged
to GunnaT, the pilot, who is due home shortly
iii the Russian East Indiaman the Nautilus.
On my departure the old man refused nv
pr0Her Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS proof of
the hospitality of the islanders He accepted.
however, few cigars, thanking me heartily
with q grip of the hand which l felt for some
days after
My interest in the girl increased Did she
rpqllv- rhar1 ba
And how did it find vent. Musing over this
set out on my return.
Thinking to shorten my journey took
brpath When reached the old castle night
had already fallen. l found that had lost
nay way, and was soon utterly at fault. /
wandered about among the rocks for a good
hour, and at last, in the distance, deserted a
light which made my beacon. 1t led me to
an isolated house. | knocked, with the inten-
ton Of asking the way. The door was
opened, and before me stood-ny beautiful
acquaintance of the afternoon
This second meeting so surprised me that |
was ut first unable 10 utter word. At last
explained my dilemma to Gudrun, who
kindly invited me to enter. 1t was her fathers
house. Tho latter, a tall man of IS, easily
i'@'''~ - a Ttii4bl "tlp Itii SUN
OF the world, gave me a friendly reception,
set some refreshments before me, and pro-
posed to accompany me until / should regain
my road. Thus. for the second time, had
asked the way of Gudrun. She referred to
this herself with some graceful Jest, which
lent fresh charm to her naturally thought
full countenance.
After this our meetings were more fro
quent: sometimes at the house of her father,
who at times accompanied me in my rambles;
walking near the old castle. One
day We visited the ruins in company. We
clambered about over the ancient walls, Gud-
run proving herself Oh entertaining guide.
She was well acquainted with the history OF
the castle, which had been the ancient strol..
hold of Bornholm.
1t was another lovely afternoon. Long
films Of gossamer floatc1 In the air; the sea
rose and fell with gentle motion We stood
upon a crumbled wall of the castle absorbed
in contemplation of the indescribable beauties
Of the scenes around us, fragraI roses en-
twinel with wv